County Council's TV station is 'abuse of power'

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County Council's TV station is 'abuse of power'

Paul Carter's KCC is 'abusing its power'

A Labour MP has accused Kent County Council of an abuse of power after it introduced a taxpayer-funded online TV station.

Stephen Ladyman, the MP for South Thanet and a former minister, told the House of Commons how KCC had decided to spend £600,000 on its own TV channel, while putting up home care charges for older people in order to raise £600,000.

He said: “There is no greater supporter of devolution to local councils than I, but should we not have a debate, so that we can expose how Tory councils abuse those powers?”

The total cost of the project – dubbed Cartervision after KCC leader Paul Carter – will be £1.4million so far. KCC hopes that advertising will eventually support the venture.

In response, the Leader of the Commons Harriet Harman said: “In the olden days that used to be known as propaganda on the rates. I thank my hon. Friend for raising the issue, which I will bring to the attention of colleagues in government.”

KCC chief executive Peter Gilroy has tried to justify the expenditure by saying it would benefit tourism, inward investment and education in the county. He has said: “This will be able to reach people that we can't reach at the moment.”

KOS Media, publisher of www.kentnews.co.uk, provides news headlines for the council's TV website, which link to our site.

POSTED: 26/10/2007 10:20:59